Treatment-Related Fluctuation in Guillain-Barre Syndrome With the Acute Motor-Sensory Axonal Neuropathy (AMSAN) Variant: A Case Report.

A 60-year-old man developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) two weeks after consuming ayahuasca, with no preceding infection or vaccination. He had progressive limb weakness, areflexia, and the acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) variant. Initial treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin improved his strength, but ten days later he experienced a severe relapse requiring ventilatory support, consistent with treatment-related fluctuation. Retreatment with immunoglobulin led to improvement. This case suggests ayahuasca may be a trigger for GBS and highlights the possibility of treatment-related fluctuations in such patients.

Study at a glance

Abstract

We present the case of a 60-year-old male patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) who experienced treatment-related fluctuations (TRF) with a history of ayahuasca consumption. The patient presented to the neurological emergency department without a history of infection (upper respiratory tract or diarrhea) or vaccination in the past four weeks, but 14 days prior, the patient had consumed ayahuasca. Upon admission, the patient exhibited progressive weakness in all four limbs, with no cranial nerve involvement, a muscle strength Medical Research Council (MRC) score of 36/60, and generalized areflexia. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed slightly elevated protein levels at 50 mg/dL and a cell count of 2 (lumbar puncture was performed three days after the onset of symptoms). Neurophysiological studies met the criteria for the acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) variant. A diagnosis of GBS was established, Brighton criteria grade 1. The patient received treatment with intravenous human immunoglobulin, resulting in improvement with an MRC score of 48/60 at discharge. However, on day 10, he returned with worsening muscle strength (MRC score of 20/60), necessitating ventilatory support. TRF was considered, and retreatment with human immunoglobulin was initiated.